My passion and angst with the current President
Perhaps it's my passion and the DNA that runs in my body about how humans must live together as one big tribe. Researching again all of the patriots in my family does help remind me that I do come from over 400 years of Americans that have participated and provided service to their country in order to keep it free. Don't get me wrong, 15 years ago, I was in my world of semi-retirement, living with what funds we could gather, and with a husband who's life was limited by a few years.
I did what I had to do. If you have read any of my posts, you will see that I changed through this process. We all do. You take the road of least resistance and survive.
I have spent the last two years lamenting, organizing, energizing, and engaging others in the political strife of our country. When I see corruption, I have always cringed. But I have also stood up to it and called it out as it is. The day Donald J. Trump was elected, I cried and curled up in a ball. I had hoped that my country would not have been this easy to divide. I saw this coming with reality shows. In reality, they are not real. Others find them simply entertaining and perhaps use them as the perfect entertainment to get away from what they perceive as the real world. Jobs, kids, demotions, salary cuts, living from paycheck to paycheck, assuming the next raise will pay for their massive credit card debt. Guess what? I've been there. You get by, assuming our government will still be standing. Donald J. Trump, a narcissist and a sociopath made his entry and gained momentum with a damned reality show. The Americans who voted for him were conned. Our Democracy may have flaws, but by being engaged in the government, participating at the ballot box, or just running for office, makes the "status quo" go away, and new ideas, people, and our future can be sustained through our election system.
This past week, testimony of loyal patriots stood in concert to tell the American public on how this current President is using extortion to have other countries "dig up dirt" on a political rival. No matter what the past has brought us with two previous impeachments, which I have lived through, I believe that our Country is in jeopardy. Decades from now, perhaps my grand-daughters will know this. Perhaps they won't care. If that is the case, my own children have not done their job. I leave that up to my children to instill in them the importance of being an engaged citizen, researching their own educated opinions about what it takes to keep a democracy.
Two years ago, I doubled-down on my political activities. (That is why you have not heard much from me here on my site.) I have marched in the downtown Sacramento Women's March 3 times now, counter-punching with my own organizing events that ended up with me being the Chair of the local County Democratic Party. Yes, I'm partisan now. I wasn't back in 1984, but through my career experience of sexual harassment at work, I joined my Union and they sent me to campaign training. I got elected to the School Board and then onto the City Council. I know what injustice is, and it didn't take long to bring those old skills into focus here in El Dorado County. The best thing was, there were many silent Democrats in the very Republican territory, and we are making changes. They also stepped up to the plate.
I have felt that I have put my spiritual self on the shelf. (Sort of rhymes with elf on the shelf). My "self" is observing my behavior and demeanor. My "self" says I am way past due on some centering.Taking time for my centered-self to sit and empty the angst in my head requires discipline, something I have not been able to reach, quite yet. My activities in organizing have included many new "tribe members" (aka my Democratic friends and people who think like me. I am most grateful they have shown up.
My conclusion is that taking the time to continue to center myself, and finish writing about my grandmothers (many half-written stories), that I can again be happy with my plan. Just be happy, pet my cat, hug my husband, Chris, and stay educated perhaps influencing the people who make decisions in my County, State, and County. Just being a good citizen isn't enough right now. So step up!
"Democracy is not just a question of having a vote. It consists of strengthening each citizen’s possibility and capacity to participate in the deliberations involved in life in society. -Fernando Cardoso
P.S. I also ran for an elected position on the El Dorado Irrigation District Board I am now completing one year as an as a Director on that Board and have found a lot of satisfaction with that. So... "Run For Something"... it's good for your soul!
I did what I had to do. If you have read any of my posts, you will see that I changed through this process. We all do. You take the road of least resistance and survive.
I have spent the last two years lamenting, organizing, energizing, and engaging others in the political strife of our country. When I see corruption, I have always cringed. But I have also stood up to it and called it out as it is. The day Donald J. Trump was elected, I cried and curled up in a ball. I had hoped that my country would not have been this easy to divide. I saw this coming with reality shows. In reality, they are not real. Others find them simply entertaining and perhaps use them as the perfect entertainment to get away from what they perceive as the real world. Jobs, kids, demotions, salary cuts, living from paycheck to paycheck, assuming the next raise will pay for their massive credit card debt. Guess what? I've been there. You get by, assuming our government will still be standing. Donald J. Trump, a narcissist and a sociopath made his entry and gained momentum with a damned reality show. The Americans who voted for him were conned. Our Democracy may have flaws, but by being engaged in the government, participating at the ballot box, or just running for office, makes the "status quo" go away, and new ideas, people, and our future can be sustained through our election system.
This past week, testimony of loyal patriots stood in concert to tell the American public on how this current President is using extortion to have other countries "dig up dirt" on a political rival. No matter what the past has brought us with two previous impeachments, which I have lived through, I believe that our Country is in jeopardy. Decades from now, perhaps my grand-daughters will know this. Perhaps they won't care. If that is the case, my own children have not done their job. I leave that up to my children to instill in them the importance of being an engaged citizen, researching their own educated opinions about what it takes to keep a democracy.
Two years ago, I doubled-down on my political activities. (That is why you have not heard much from me here on my site.) I have marched in the downtown Sacramento Women's March 3 times now, counter-punching with my own organizing events that ended up with me being the Chair of the local County Democratic Party. Yes, I'm partisan now. I wasn't back in 1984, but through my career experience of sexual harassment at work, I joined my Union and they sent me to campaign training. I got elected to the School Board and then onto the City Council. I know what injustice is, and it didn't take long to bring those old skills into focus here in El Dorado County. The best thing was, there were many silent Democrats in the very Republican territory, and we are making changes. They also stepped up to the plate.
I have felt that I have put my spiritual self on the shelf. (Sort of rhymes with elf on the shelf). My "self" is observing my behavior and demeanor. My "self" says I am way past due on some centering.Taking time for my centered-self to sit and empty the angst in my head requires discipline, something I have not been able to reach, quite yet. My activities in organizing have included many new "tribe members" (aka my Democratic friends and people who think like me. I am most grateful they have shown up.
My conclusion is that taking the time to continue to center myself, and finish writing about my grandmothers (many half-written stories), that I can again be happy with my plan. Just be happy, pet my cat, hug my husband, Chris, and stay educated perhaps influencing the people who make decisions in my County, State, and County. Just being a good citizen isn't enough right now. So step up!
"Democracy is not just a question of having a vote. It consists of strengthening each citizen’s possibility and capacity to participate in the deliberations involved in life in society. -Fernando Cardoso
P.S. I also ran for an elected position on the El Dorado Irrigation District Board I am now completing one year as an as a Director on that Board and have found a lot of satisfaction with that. So... "Run For Something"... it's good for your soul!
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